Long ago, three men were cutting stone in a French quarry. One day, a traveller was walking by and admired their hard labour. He asked the first man, "What are you doing?"

Without looking up, he said, "Cutting stone."

The inquiring visitor asked the second man, "What are you doing?"

He replied, "I'm making 30 francs per day."

Finally, the traveller asked the third man, "What are you doing?" Long ago, three men were cutting stone in a French quarry. One day, a traveller was walking by and admired their hard labour. He asked the first man, "What are you doing?"

Without looking up, he said, "Cutting stone."

The inquiring visitor asked the second man, "What are you doing?"

He replied, "I'm making 30 francs per day."

Finally, the traveller asked the third man, "What are you doing?"

The third man stood up proudly and exclaimed, "I'm helping to build the greatest cathedral in all of France!"

For the first man, cutting stone was just hard work. For the second man, it was all about making money on which to survive. But this third man could see the big picture—he had more vision than the others. That vision compelled him to work tirelessly with an enduring hope that filled his heart with joy. 

We, too, must keep the big picture in mind. God is building His kingdom, and you are one of His chosen servants. What great joy we have in our work if we keep the big picture in mind!

The third man stood up proudly and exclaimed, "I'm helping to build the greatest cathedral in all of France!"

For the first man, cutting stone was just hard work. For the second man, it was all about making money on which to survive. But this third man could see the big picture—he had more vision than the others. That vision compelled him to work tirelessly with an enduring hope that filled his heart with joy. 

We, too, must keep the big picture in mind. God is building His kingdom, and you are one of His chosen servants. What great joy we have in our work if we keep the big picture in mind!